Grundy Blitz Follows Kingham Rescue Act to See Marple Home!
Marple 1st XI – 172 all out (50 overs) 20 points, beat Cheadle 136 all out (43.2 overs) 5 points by 36 runs.
Marple, ultimately fairly comfortably, overcame Cheadle by 36 runs at Bowden Lane, in tricky batting conditions last Saturday.
Whatever the weather and ground conditions, Marple skipper Andrew Hall is always happier taking first knock. Against Cheadle, relegated from the premier league in 2023, Marple faced the experienced and quality attack of Dan Brown and Ben Broadhurst. Hall moved himself back to open, and although Jacob Noakes fell for just a single, Hall and Ramsay both looked in good touch. Hall, 24, once more though, got out when looking set for a big score, bowled by Brown at 29 for 2. Zac Phair did not last too long, but Max Fitzgerald again played freely. Conditions, and the bowling, meant that care was needed though, and Marple never really broke free of the Cheadle shackles. Ramsay made a painstaking 29, Fitzgerald 23 and Sam Stretton 20. At 98 for 6, the home side needed some lower order quality to post a competitive total.
Rob Kingham, full of confidence early this season, provided that boost. He added 23 with Stretton, then 37 for the ninth wicket with a determined Joe Cash. Kingham was out to the final ball of the innings for 39, but he had done a terrific job. Marple recovered to 172 all out, which was always likely to prove challenging to chase down. Cheadle bowled pretty well, Dan Brown, 3 for 27, Paddy Keogh 2 for 28 and Josh Morton 3 for 33 leading the way.
Once again it was Jack Grundy who got Marple on top after the break. The man who has the knack of taking wickets at any time, ripped out Fisher for 3 and Yaksender for a duck. Cheadle were in peril at 13 for 2. However, Brown, one of the league’s leading all-rounders, and Jim Clift dug in, despite never looking in total command. They added 41, before Grundy had his third, Brown lbw for 24.
After this, wickets fell at regular intervals, no visiting batter threatening to take his side to victory. Cash bowled a mean spell of 0 for 14 from 8 overs, and Zac Phair showed his versatility with a very handy 2 for 35 from ten overs. Mark Makin got in the act as well to remove the stubborn Clift, bowled for 36. Dickinson, 12 not out, and Keogh, 20, did add a useful 34 for the eighth wicket, but a refreshed Kingham returned and blew away the tail in short order. He finished with 3 for 26 and Grundy had a vital 4 for 39. Returning keeper Andy Wild pouched four victims behind the stumps on his first appearance of the season.
Next Saturday, 11th May, Marple make the short trip to Romiley for a first ever league meeting between the two clubs’ first elevens, start time 12.00 noon.
Marple 1st XI lost by one wicket in the Cheshire Cup to Alsager on Sunday. Marple 106, Max Fitzgerald 29, Rob Kingham 25, Asif Raza 5 for 12. Alsager 107 for 9, Asif Raza 32, Ed Saxelby 3 for 1 8, Zac Phair 3 for 20 and Rob Kingham 2 for 26.
Marple’s second eleven fixture at Alderley Edge was abandoned without a ball being bowled, the Moss Lane ground still unfit for play after the prolonged winter and early spring rainfall.
In the Cheshire Cricket League, Marple/Compstall’s newly named third team (former 2As) defeated Lindow thirds by 14 runs in a low scoring game at Compstall.
M/C managed 94 all out. Tom Lloyd blitzed a quick 26 and Ben Cunliffe looked in good form making 15. Neil Hurren (24) put on the longest partnership of the day with the returning Andy Hayes, showing the benefit of experience on a tricky wicket. The wickets were evenly shared amongst the Lindow bowlers.
Lindow battled to just 80 in reply They were 30 for 7, but Graham Clinton, 18, and Paul Wilson made M/C sweat on their victory. Neil Hurren, 3 for 9, Greg Marsland 3 for 10, and the emerging George Bailey 3 for 32 were irresistible, with new Captain Lee Sanders taking the final wicket with his first ball as Lindow looked like they were edging their way to victory.
Marple Over 40s Beat Breadbury St Marks
The Marple Over 40s won their first game of the season off the final ball at home to Bredbury St Marks.
Bowling first Paul Hodgson bowling superbly in taking 2 for 7 from his four overs, ably supported by the evergreen Neil Hurren (2 for 16). Marple produced a great fielding performance to restrict the away side to 95 for 6 off their 20 overs. Evan Powell with the other wickets, one clean bowled and a direct run out. Darren Carr (32) & Noman Zubairi (17) top scored for Bredbury.
Marple’s chase was perfectly timed – keeping up with the run rate throughout the innings after a solid start from openers Jon Mason & Jonny Wiedemann (12). Mason retired having made his customary 30, last year’s leading league run scorer looks in great form again. After a mid-order slight wobble, a hobbling Andy Gichero (23no) and Evan Powell (16no) came together at 55 for 4 and put an unbroken match winning partnership, finally winning off the final ball as Powell completed a great all round performance to hit the winning run with a customary clip through midwicket. Gichero’s big six in the 18th over (in an otherwise uncustomary sedate innings) was a major factor in the win. Graham Barlow 4 for 14 was the picked up all Bredbury wickets.
Next Wednesday Marple host Woodley at the Michael Hibbert Cricket Ground on Wednesday, 6pm start.